Biography:
1. John Gibbs was a Millwright who was paid £1.9.9d for work carried out by the Engineers' Department in the Manufactory between the 15th and 21st July 1809 (Supply 5/228 dated the 21st July 1809). WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826, recorded that he first worked for the Board on the 29th March 1806, and this agreed with the length of service recorded in later Returns.
2. WO54/512 dated September 1812, confirmed that he was employed as a Millwright earning 5/2d per day.
3. WO54/516 dated February 1816, recorded that John was employed as a casual Millwright by the Engineers' Department and had first worked for the Board in that capacity on the 29th March 1806. He was a 32-year-old married man living in Waltham Abbey with 4 children, and was then paid 5/8d per day.
4. According to WO54/520 dated 28th February 1817, Mr. Gibbs was still a Millwright aged 33, who was married, but now had 5 children. He was paid 5/2d per day, and was employed "occasionally as the Service required." This was also the case in 1818 (WO54/524).
5. WO54/528 dated the 19th May 1819, recorded that although he then had 6 children, all his other details remained the same.
6. List of Employees dated the 13th September 1820 ( WO54/532) confirmed that John Gibbs was still employed as a Millwright. He was then 37, lived in Waltham Abbey, and this Return statesdthat he was married with 7 children. He still earned 5/2d per day, and was still employed "occasionally as the Service required." These details remained the same according to WO54/536 dated 2 April 1821 and WO54/536 dated 31st December 1821.
7. WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 recorded that John, as a Millwright, was paid 5/2d per day for 313 days, which gave him an annual income of £80.17.2d. It confirmed that he had 7 children, and his service details remained the same.
8. WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825 confirmed that John Gibbs was still paid 5/2d per day for 313 days as a Millwright, which gave him an annual income of £80.17.2d. His service was given as 19 years, and he was then aged 42 with 8 children.
9. WO54/550 dated 13th October 1825 repeated the information given in the Return dated 1st April 1825.
10 WO54/554 dated 1st April 1826, recorded identical information as given in Notes 8 and 9, with the exception that he was now 43 and had served 20 years. In addition, he then had 9 children.
11 WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826 confirmed the information given in the previous notes, as did WO54/558 dated 1st April 1827. However, at that date John Gibbs had 21 years' service and was 44 years of age.
13 WO54/558 dated 1st October 1827 recorded no basic difference from the previous Return.
14 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) updated the same basic information already given.
15 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated John's age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
16 WO54/566 dated 1st April 1829, confirmed that John still earned £80.17.2d annually. His length of service was given as 23 years and he was then 46 years of age..
17 Return dated 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, family and pay details remaining unchanged.
18 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830, all details remained the same for John Gibbs as in Note 16, except that his service was then 24 years and he was 47 years of age.
19 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830, confirmed that John was still a Millwright, with family details and pay remaining the same, but his service and age were updated.
20 A Return of Persons belonging to the Civil Establishment of the Ordnance at the Gunpowder and Small Arms Manufactories at Waltham Abbey, Faversham and Enfield showing in detail the several points of information called for by the Master General and Board's Order dated the 31st January 1831, recorded that John Gibbs was one of the 3 Millwrights employed at Waltham Abbey. He was paid 5/2d per day and his duties were given as general service as a Millwright within the Manufactories, which required great attention, skill and sobriety, etc.(WO54/570).
21 WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831, updated his age and period of service in the October 1830 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
22 WO54/575 dated October 1831, confirmed that John Gibbs still earned 5/2d per day, giving him a total of £80.17.2d per annum. At that date he had served over 25 years and was 49 years of age.
23 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832, updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
24 WO54/581 dated 1st October 1832, recorded that he still earned £80.17.2d per annum and that by that date he had served for over 26 years. His age was given as 50.
25 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, confirmed the information given in Note 24, except that he had served 27 years.
26 WO54/587 dated 1st October 1833, gave the same basic details as in Note 25, but his age and length of service had been updated.
27 WO54/593 dated 1st April 1834 confirmed that John still earned a total of £80.17.2d per annum, that he was just over 51 years of age, and that he had served 28 years.
28 In a Petition to the Board dated the 7th March 1838, Sarah, John Gibbs' widow, stated that her son had been Apprenticed to the Master Sulphur Refiner on the 1st ctober 1834, following the death of his father. She continued that her son was now doing a man's job, and requested a pay increase for him. It was agreed by the Board to increase his money from 6/-d to 9/-d per week (Supply 5/237). It can be assumed, therefore, that John Gibbs died between April and October 1834.
